Historic Child Abuse Enquiry

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A decision made (11.08.08) to amend P91/2008 regarding the funding for the Historic Child Abuse Enquiry.

Decision Reference: MD-TR-2008-0085
Decision Summary Title:	Amendment to P91/2008 - Historic Child Abuse Enquiry: Funding		Date of Decision Summary:	6th August 2008
Decision Summary Author:	Kevin Hemmings Head of Decision Support		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title:	Amendment to P91/2008 - Historic Child Abuse Enquiry: Funding		Date of Written Report:	6th August 2008
Written Report Author:	Kevin Hemmings Head of Decision Support		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Amendment to P91/2008 - Historic Child Abuse Enquiry: Funding
Decision(s): The Minister approved the amendment to P91/2008 - Historic Child Abuse Enquiry: Funding and requested that it be lodged au Greffe at the earliest opportunity.
Reason(s) for Decision: To approve the amendment to P91/2008 - Historic Child Abuse Enquiry: Funding.
Resource Implications: Other than those detailed in the report there are no further financial or manpower implications.
Action required: Final text of amendment to be sent to the Publications Editor of the Greffe by the Head of Decision Support and request that it be lodged at the earliest opportunity.
Signature:		Position: Senator T A Le Sueur, Minister for Treasury and Resources
Date Signed: 11th August 2008		Date of Decision: 11th August 2008

Historic Child Abuse Enquiry - funding

HISTORIC CHILD ABUSE ENQUIRY: FUNDING (P.91/2008) – AMENDMENT

____________

In paragraph (a) for the number “£6,000,000” substitute “£7,500,000” –

In paragraph (b) for the number “£6,000,000” substitute “£7,500,000” –

MINISTER FOR TREASURY AND RESOURCES

REPORT

1. Introduction

1.1 P91/2008 was lodged on 3rd June 2008 and was originally scheduled to be debated prior to the summer recess. Due to the heavy volume of States workload it was deferred to the sitting commencing 8th September 2008.

1.2 During the period between lodging and debate further information has come to light which has enabled the forecast of the expenditure on the enquiry to be improved. The forecast total expenditure which cannot be met from existing cash limits in 2008 has risen from £6 million to £7 million. The reasons for this increase are given below, together with a summary of the main items of expenditure for each department. All other aspects of P91 remain unchanged.

1.3 As a contingency and to prevent a further request the States are now asked to approve expenditure of up to £7.5 million.

2. Increase in forecast

2.1 The following table shows the forecasts at the end of June 2008 compared to those at the end of March:

Department	Forecast at 31st March	Forecast at 30th June
	£	£

Health and Social Services	124,000	232,000
Education Sport and Culture	50,000	-
ESC - Jersey Archive	0	65,000
Home Affairs	3,373,700	4,522,000
Treasury and Resources (Property Holdings)	573,000	550,000
Law Officers	1,318,855	1,350,000
Economic Development	210,000	210,000
Chief Minister's	40,000	51,000

Total	5,689,555	6,980,000

2.2 The main cause of the increase is a rise in the Home Affairs forecast. This is due to three main reasons:

· Withdrawal date from Haut de la Garenne – originally forecast to be early May but actual date was early July. This has resulted in a significant increase in security costs.

· Excavation of a second site.

· Increase in forensic costs due to the number of items found at Haut de la Garenne.

3. Nature of expenditure

The following represents a very brief summary of examples of the reasons for the additional funding sought:

 Health and Social Services - additional work for the Child Protection Committee, Professor Upex Inquiry, staff cover, Psychological Assessment Team Support.

 Education Sport and Culture – work at the Jersey Archive.

 Home Affairs – police costs.

 Property Holdings - loss of income from YHA, security of Haut de la Garenne and reinstating excavated areas of the site.

 Law Officers – detailed estimates of probable court and case costs plus full-time Lawyer at Police Headquarters for enquiry.

 Economic Development - campaign to increase forward bookings and build awareness of Jersey as a holiday destination.

 Chief Ministers’ – public relations.

4. Financial/manpower implications

As previously indicated, payment will only be made against expenditure actually incurred and validated by the Accounting Officer of the relevant Department. States revenue expenditure for 2008 will rise by up to £7.5 million.